Unique and unusual venues all have something different to offer and can leave guests with unforgettable memories.
Whether it’s an unexpected location or bizarre interior, a venue with something distinctive is always a show stopper. At Evolve one of the most popular questions we get asked is to recommend a really unusual venue so here’s a roundup of some of our favourite unusual venues, all of which would add that extra element to your event.
Wine and Charcuterie
Dining and drinking in a toilet doesn’t sound like the finest of evenings but, we promise, this is a hidden treasure. Here, WC stands for Wine and Charcuterie, instead of its former use of a Water Closet in Clapham. The venue has been renovated after winning the Clapham Old Town Regeneration Project.
The building has been sympathetically transformed with all the original tiling remaining and the initial urinal partitions now used as table tops for the three intimate booths (but obviously all after a thorough sterilisation!). The old glass tiles flood the bar with light, and during the night the low lighting provides a perfect setting for relaxing after-work drinks. This quirky little venue can’t be missed and certainly ticks the unusual venue box. For intimate dinners you can hire out the venue for a private event and give your guests the chance to say they’ve experienced dining in a London lav.
Castle Gibson
This quirky, yet charming 6,000 sq/ft warehouse is filled with natural light through the skylight roof, which connects all the rooms together. The former car mechanic’s workshop still has the original walls and with such a large space you can let your imagination run wild with opportunities.
It may look bare, but with a closer look, there is a lot of detail and character within this venue. A variety of props can be individually sourced for the venue, adding uniqueness to your event. Bursting with light and full of rustic features, this is a venue you can put your own stamp on without hindering the individuality. Whether it be big or small, your event here definitely won’t be ordinary.
Cahoots
Cahoots is Soho’s little secret in the form of a classic 1940’s style tube-themed bar. Hidden in the disused Kingly Court Underground Station, this place certainly has plenty of little quirks about it. Originally an abandoned air raid shelter, this bar was created to resemble a traditional Underground Station in the 1940’s but it’s not just the retro décor that takes you back in time; the eight paged cocktail menus are presented as a tabloid newspaper to really give you that ‘commuting in the forties’ feel.
You can hire the train carriage for 40 guests or the whole venue for a larger party of 150. Just to add to that war-time living Cahoots can serve an array of sandwiches and snacks in rationing tins. So if it’s an unusual travel-back-in-time feel that you’re looking for, Cahoots will provide the whole shebang.
Wunderlust at the ‘Big Red’
Austrian street food traders, Fleisch Mob, have created a pop-up project at Deptford’s ‘Big Red’ called Wunderlust. The Big Red Pizza Bus has been transformed into a restaurant and bar, filled with comforts, detailed features and atmospheric lighting throughout. This bar and restaurant is in and around a double-decker London bus, providing all kinds of unique features for an event. You can hire out the whole Wunderbus exclusively for your event.
Little Nan
With the selection of two different locations “Little Nan’s Tropical Den” and “Little Nan’s Rio Bar”, you have two destinations to enjoy either of these fun and quirky venues. They offer a true alternative experience of everything kitsch, with each venue having it’s own individual twists. At the Tropical Den, Little Nan expresses her love for EastEnders kitsch queen, Pat Butcher, with the chance to enjoy cocktails served in teapots and a bizarre choice of high tea and Caribbean dinners. Enjoy the kitsch interior with free pick n mix sweets and popcorn along with disco anthems and a celebration of all things retro.
Nan’s Rio Bar has a similar theme but offers a more 90’s vibe. This themed pop up bar can offer all kinds of entertainment for your event ensuring your guests will leave feeling upbeat. If you’re looking for a fully furnished venue with quirks and unusual features then these are the places to be.
The Lodge on Loch Goil
If you’re looking for something outside London, perhaps for an away-day, then a tremendous venue in Scotland comes in the form of a treehouse at The Lodge on Loch Goil. This beautiful location is a unique and very special setting for any occasion.
Popular with weddings and private events the treehouse overlooks Loch Goil, with the mountain landscape in the far distance. With such beautiful sceneries it’s hard not to love. The treehouse provides a ‘fantasy hideaway’ to get away from everyday life. You can huddle 24 guests into this glorious space and enjoy your intimate celebration whilst floating in the sky, up in a tree. An unusual venue, full of visual charm.
Carnglaze Caverns
And on the other side of the country…Carnglaze Caverns is Cornwall’s only remaining slate mine. Rich in history, this venue is used for all kinds of occasions and has even hosted concerts. The caves can be internally decorated according to your personal preferences with low lighting with candles or LED lights a popular choice. With a capacity of 400 for events this venue packs a punch in width and height! Guests can descend 60m below to see the underground lake, which can be used as a smaller space for 40 people where guests can enjoy the translucent turquoise lake and surroundings.
Here at Evolve Events we work with some of the most prestigious and unusual venues available including venues with inspiring views. We offer a free venue finding service. Discover some more of our favourite venues for events here.
If you’d like to know more about venue hire options at the Tate Modern and arrange a viewing or would like our help finding another perfect venue for your event just get in touch with the team.
TEL : 020 7610 2808 – EMAIL : info@evolve-events.com